Here’s what the EGM staff will be playing this weekend—now let us know what games you’ll be spending your weekend with!

I’m really going to be geeking it up this weekend as Star Wars and Batman look to dominate my life. Actually, now that I think about it, they really kind of dominate it whether I have games to play about them or not.

First on the docket is Kinect Star Wars. I’m really on the fence about this game because some of the sequences I’ve played in previews were a lot of fun, and others were kind of disappointing (I got enough of a podracer fix in Star Wars: Episode I: Racer that I don’t really ever want to do it again). Of course, like with most Kinect games, I think the controls will really be what makes or breaks this in the end, but until then I look forward to pretending I’m a Jedi. Ya know, without a flashlight and bath robe for once.

The second game is Batman: Arkham City. Now I know many of you are probably like, “Wait. Didn’t that come out in October? Why bust it back open now?” Quite simply because, aside from being my personal game of the year for 2011, I’m also hard at work on the Storyteller achievement, where you have to talk to Calendar Man on 12 holidays during the year—and Sunday is April Fools’ Day. Sure, I could disconnect my Xbox 360 from the Internet and just change the date, but Batman can’t mess with time so I’m not either. Real fans will unlock this achievement in September, just like me.

The last few weekends have been really busy, both with work and personally, so I’m looking forward to having a weekend free of responsibility where I can enjoy some gaming in peace.

In keeping with that thought, I plan to start with Journey, which seems about as peaceful as I can imagine. When I’m stressed out I turn to thatgamecompany’s Flower. That game is so Zen it can unwind me from the most tense day. Journey looks like it continues this sort of gameplay as it focuses on wandering through the desert. I’m looking forward to see how these encounters with others play out, since you can’t talk to one another. I’m also anxious to see what the game is actually about. I’ve been avoiding any information on what it all means, so I can experience it as it unfolds.

Of course if I get too relaxed I’m likely to kick back and fall asleep. So the time has come to get back into Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. I put it down for a few weeks even though I haven’t finished it. I’m trying to complete all of the side quests as I go along, so it’s taking quite a while (I’m already more than 60 hours in). And then what happens? DLC! I have downloaded The Legend of Dead Kel, which only puts me further back. I figure I need to get crackin’ so I’m closer to done before the next DLC comes down.

This week, my entire weekend will once again be devoted to Star Wars: The Old Republic. I recently got my Sith Inquisitor to level 50, and now I’m knee deep in the game’s PVP trying to get my full Battlemaster gear set. It’s going to take a fair chunk of time to achieve, and I’m still trying to save up enough credits to buy that—so far elusive—white lightsaber crystal. I will get it one day.

You may be wandering why I’m not going to be engrossed in TERA, considering that I’ve played every closed beta test so far and there’s another this weekend. Well, it’s down to me cancelling my pre-order. After a few weekends of play time, TTRA has become boring and repetitive. I tried most of the classes, and while the more action-orientated battle style was fun, it quickly began to feel grindy. So our time together has come to an end.

With PAX East looming on the horizon next week, this weekend for me will be less about enjoying games on a more personal level, and more about trying to play games to get ahead of the working time I’ll soon be losing.

Now that we’re back to doing three-person reviews for the print version of EGM, I’m already digging deep into the games that I’ll be a part of. For that benefit, two titles I’ll be getting to over the weekend are Kid Icarus: Uprising and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. From what I’ve played so far, I’m enjoying Uprising—though I much prefer the flying sections to the on-the-ground segments. As far as Operation Raccoon City, I’ve not yet touched it beyond a few minutes with an early build of the game at last year’s E3. I do like the premise, but am not 100% it’s a premie that’ll work out well.

And then, to try to get a bit ahead on my major upcoming reviews, I’m going to be spending some time with Atelier Meruru before we get to the point of the English-language version hitting. The Atelier series is one I can’t help but keep coming back to, even if I haven’t enjoyed every chapter that I’ve played as much as I’d like to have. The recent Arland saga has been pretty decent however, and I’m eager to see what changes Meruru brings over Totori.

Plus, I mean—look at that Meruru. The frills, the flower accessories, the well-styled hair, the tiny crown accessory! Not to mention such an old-world yet high-class backdrop there, with a posh classical European home adorned in elements of nature. Classless my ass…

Now that you know what we’re playing—what are YOU going to be playing this weekend? We’d love to know, so post a comment below and tell us what games will be giving you joy (or frustration) this weekend!

About Eric Patterson

Eric got his start via self-publishing game-related fanzines in junior high, and now has one goal in life: making sure EGM has as much coverage of niche Japanese games as he can convince them to fit in. Eric’s also active in the gaming community on a personal level, being an outspoken voice on topics such as equality in gaming and consumer rights.

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EGM Presents: What We’re Playing This Weekend

Here's what the EGM staff will be playing this weekend—now let us know what games you'll be spending your weekend with!

Here’s what the EGM staff will be playing this weekend—now let us know what games you’ll be spending your weekend with!

I’m really going to be geeking it up this weekend as Star Wars and Batman look to dominate my life. Actually, now that I think about it, they really kind of dominate it whether I have games to play about them or not.

First on the docket is Kinect Star Wars. I’m really on the fence about this game because some of the sequences I’ve played in previews were a lot of fun, and others were kind of disappointing (I got enough of a podracer fix in Star Wars: Episode I: Racer that I don’t really ever want to do it again). Of course, like with most Kinect games, I think the controls will really be what makes or breaks this in the end, but until then I look forward to pretending I’m a Jedi. Ya know, without a flashlight and bath robe for once.

The second game is Batman: Arkham City. Now I know many of you are probably like, “Wait. Didn’t that come out in October? Why bust it back open now?” Quite simply because, aside from being my personal game of the year for 2011, I’m also hard at work on the Storyteller achievement, where you have to talk to Calendar Man on 12 holidays during the year—and Sunday is April Fools’ Day. Sure, I could disconnect my Xbox 360 from the Internet and just change the date, but Batman can’t mess with time so I’m not either. Real fans will unlock this achievement in September, just like me.

The last few weekends have been really busy, both with work and personally, so I’m looking forward to having a weekend free of responsibility where I can enjoy some gaming in peace.

In keeping with that thought, I plan to start with Journey, which seems about as peaceful as I can imagine. When I’m stressed out I turn to thatgamecompany’s Flower. That game is so Zen it can unwind me from the most tense day. Journey looks like it continues this sort of gameplay as it focuses on wandering through the desert. I’m looking forward to see how these encounters with others play out, since you can’t talk to one another. I’m also anxious to see what the game is actually about. I’ve been avoiding any information on what it all means, so I can experience it as it unfolds.

Of course if I get too relaxed I’m likely to kick back and fall asleep. So the time has come to get back into Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. I put it down for a few weeks even though I haven’t finished it. I’m trying to complete all of the side quests as I go along, so it’s taking quite a while (I’m already more than 60 hours in). And then what happens? DLC! I have downloaded The Legend of Dead Kel, which only puts me further back. I figure I need to get crackin’ so I’m closer to done before the next DLC comes down.

This week, my entire weekend will once again be devoted to Star Wars: The Old Republic. I recently got my Sith Inquisitor to level 50, and now I’m knee deep in the game’s PVP trying to get my full Battlemaster gear set. It’s going to take a fair chunk of time to achieve, and I’m still trying to save up enough credits to buy that—so far elusive—white lightsaber crystal. I will get it one day.

You may be wandering why I’m not going to be engrossed in TERA, considering that I’ve played every closed beta test so far and there’s another this weekend. Well, it’s down to me cancelling my pre-order. After a few weekends of play time, TTRA has become boring and repetitive. I tried most of the classes, and while the more action-orientated battle style was fun, it quickly began to feel grindy. So our time together has come to an end.

With PAX East looming on the horizon next week, this weekend for me will be less about enjoying games on a more personal level, and more about trying to play games to get ahead of the working time I’ll soon be losing.

Now that we’re back to doing three-person reviews for the print version of EGM, I’m already digging deep into the games that I’ll be a part of. For that benefit, two titles I’ll be getting to over the weekend are Kid Icarus: Uprising and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. From what I’ve played so far, I’m enjoying Uprising—though I much prefer the flying sections to the on-the-ground segments. As far as Operation Raccoon City, I’ve not yet touched it beyond a few minutes with an early build of the game at last year’s E3. I do like the premise, but am not 100% it’s a premie that’ll work out well.

And then, to try to get a bit ahead on my major upcoming reviews, I’m going to be spending some time with Atelier Meruru before we get to the point of the English-language version hitting. The Atelier series is one I can’t help but keep coming back to, even if I haven’t enjoyed every chapter that I’ve played as much as I’d like to have. The recent Arland saga has been pretty decent however, and I’m eager to see what changes Meruru brings over Totori.

Plus, I mean—look at that Meruru. The frills, the flower accessories, the well-styled hair, the tiny crown accessory! Not to mention such an old-world yet high-class backdrop there, with a posh classical European home adorned in elements of nature. Classless my ass…

Now that you know what we’re playing—what are YOU going to be playing this weekend? We’d love to know, so post a comment below and tell us what games will be giving you joy (or frustration) this weekend!

About Eric Patterson

Eric got his start via self-publishing game-related fanzines in junior high, and now has one goal in life: making sure EGM has as much coverage of niche Japanese games as he can convince them to fit in. Eric’s also active in the gaming community on a personal level, being an outspoken voice on topics such as equality in gaming and consumer rights.